“Never my love.”
We quit sleeping with clothes on after our second night together. It was just easier this way, as they never seemed to stay on long anyway.
Slowly she rides me in long languid strokes. My hands firmly hold her hips as she sets the pace for us. Gradually she increases her speed until she grids against me. I know she likes to get things started, but she would much rather have me in control of her, and so I oblige her. What my princess wants, my princess gets. I let her continue for a few more minutes, before she nods her head just slightly and I pull her down firmly against my chest, flipping us and taking the dominant position.
“God, you’re beautiful.”
She grips the headboard as I move with more intensity and focus. Her moans echoing around us as she reaches her peak and I follow behind just moments later, collapsing on the bed beside her.
“I love you, Robert. And thank you, for all of this.”
“I love you too.” I pull her back into my arms and hold her tight. “Hey Presley?” I can hear the sleep in her voice as she lets out a small hmm. “Can I come watch you work?”
“Are you sure you want too?” She sounds hesitant and worried about my answer.
“Yea.”
She rolls over and looks me in the eye, her eyes darting back and forth, her tone turning serious, “You may not like what you see.” She stops and gives me a moment. “Do you remember how you first acted?”
“Kinda.”
“Some players are like you; some players are easier, and some are worse. I never know what I’m going to get when I show up the first time. There is Donovan.”
I cringe at the sound of that name.
“And then there is Presley. You will always get Presley. They are two very different egos Robert. Two different people sharing one body.”
I nod my head in understanding.
“When I’m on the field, I have to be Donovan, it’s what’s expected of me. And as much as you might get pissed off, I will need you to stay back. They will try to walk over me. They will call me things that will piss you off, but if you come with me, you will not interfere. I will handle it.”
I kiss her nose and give her the reassurance she’s looking for. None of it sits well with me, but I want to see her in action. I want to see what others see when they watch her from the outside.
“Now let’s get some sleep.”
* * *
A few hours later we make our way to the airport, seventeen hours of traveling stand before us, the only positive thing about the next eleven hours in a flying coffin, is the first-class arrangements that await us. Once we reach stateside we have an extended layover, and then finish our journey in economy, not even seated next to one another. Presley doesn’t spend extravagantly when it comes to the business. Everything she makes has been put away in savings after bills have been paid.
We take our seats and I watch as Presley pulls out her laptop, notebook and pen, ready to get to work. She spends the majority of her time watching tape on both players, rewinding, fast forwarding, pausing, and making notes. She jumps from tape to excel sheets and figures out equations like a pro. Funny how this was once the girl I tutored in Algebra 2. She is all business, but I can’t help but admire how sexy she looks in her black framed glasses pouring over numbers.
I wonder if this is what her prep time looked like for me as well.
She finally stops when they bring around lunch. She barely eats, instead opting to nap on my shoulder. I knew she worked hard, but this is a whole other side to her, one that I had never seen before. I promised to support her, and that’s exactly what I intend to do, even though I was still unclear as to what that meant in this point in our lives.
We reach New York, make our way through customs and grab dinner before our next flight. Once again she doesn’t eat much, just messes with the chicken that’s on her plate and cites being stagnant and nerves as a loss of appetite.
When we finally land in Alabama we have about an hour before she is due at the stadium. I’m exhausted and I know she is too. She excuses herself and heads to the airport bathroom to change while I go and grab us coffees.
Finding a small table close by, I take a seat and wait. When she comes out, I am in awe. There is no way this is the same woman that went in there just ten minutes prior.
Before she was clad in tennis shoes, leggings, and a baggy sweater, her hair tossed up in a messy bun and very little makeup on. Now she emerges a butterfly. A tight-fitting black dress with a denim shirt layered on top and knotted together at the bottom. Her legs look long and sleek as she struts with confidence and power in black stilettos. Gone is the top knot, and in its place is a loose ponytail that has been pulled through a distressed Cowboys’ baseball cap. Light blush, mascara and red lipstick complete her ‘take no prisoners’ outfit. I suddenly feel extremely under dressed in my grey joggers, tennis shoes, and white T-shirt.
“Well fuck me,” I say, standing as she approaches.
She giggles, trails her finger down the center of my chest, and pulls on my waistband just enough to make it pop. “I will later.” She offers a wink as I hold out her coffee.
“Coffee?”
“God yes! Thank you.” We make our way through baggage claim and find a car service, ready and waiting for us. We climb in and head to the stadium.
“You think they’re gonna be there? It’s late babe.” I look at the clock, almost 11:00 p.m.
“We’ll see.”
“So everyone starts off the same way?”
“Usually.” She grabs my hand, lacing our fingers together and resting her head on my shoulder. “Hopefully this won't take long. I’d kill for room service, a bath, and comfortable bed.”
“Then room service it will be.” I kiss her forehead and she sinks into me. “I don’t know if I’ve told you, but I’m really proud of you. I know this will be an adjustment for me, but thanks for letting me come with you.”
“I’m glad you’re here. Just please don’t read too much into things okay? Everything I do is for a reason. I can't hear someone say I’m being too hard on a player or it will mess with me: just watch, stay quiet, and remember you get Presley every night. That girl you met months ago was doing a job, Robert. I didn’t know what would happen in between or how things would work out between us. You are my husband now and I thank God and Liv every day for giving us a second chance.”
“Don’t tell Liv that. She’s liable to start thinking she is God.”
We both laugh, Presley’s is soft, barely louder than a whisper, and sounds more like the beating of hummingbird wings. She really is exhausted. Surely she isn’t that worn out from our honeymoon. And now this. Back to work without even a few hours break.
The stadium comes into view as she quickly checks her appearance in the forward-facing camera of her phone. “You ready?”
“Yea. Go get em tiger.” I smack her ass as she gets out of the car. I can see a smile fighting to break free, but she won't let it. She is strong, powerful and fearless as she walks into the stadium flanked by me and one of the coaching staff. She finds a seat and takes her place in the shadows, watching the field and reviewing the two players’ files, Desmond Mercury and Colt Dickerson.
* * *
For some reason, having Robert here has made me incredibly nervous. I grab his hand and he runs his thumb over my knuckles. The first player steps out onto the field, five minutes early. This could be the sign of a good start. I can work with this.
The second player arrives two minutes late, close enough to on time to push back against me calling him out on his tardiness. I hate the ones that miss it by just a few seconds, they always seem to be the worst ones, the cocky ones, the ones that will no doubt challenge me from the moment I accept them into the program.
“Show time,” I whisper while giving his leg a pat and standing up. I make my way down to the field and introductions are made between myself, the coaches and players.
Dickerson scoffs at me and s
pits at my feet, getting a little on the toe of my shoe. My eyes dart to Robert, I can see his irritation from here, but he remains seated. I squint my eyes to Dickerson. “Clean it up,” I growl out.
He throws his head back in laughter.
“You have two choices. One, clean it up and move forward with me, or two, I pull your ass from this year’s draft. Makes no difference either way to me.”
He laughs again, this time muttering certain expletives that can only be used when referencing a woman. He made the decision, not me.
I pull out my phone and put it on speaker, the line begins to ring. “Snyder. Hi it’s Donovan.”
“Hey! Nice to have you on board. I couldn’t believe when I found out you were working for us.” I smile at Dickerson who looks as white as a ghost at the realization of the choice he just made.
“Listen, you don’t want Colt Dickerson. He has an issue with authority and I’m about eighty-five percent sure he would be a PR nightmare when it comes to women.”
“Man. That’s unfortunate. We really liked him. Thanks for the heads-up D. If you say pass, we’ll pass. Thanks for looking at him.”
I hang up the phone and walk away before he even has a chance to grovel, calling out over my shoulder, “Mercury! Be here tomorrow, 9:00 a.m.”
* * *
I watch on as some prick just spat on Presley. I’m about to lose my cool when I see her glance in my direction and I stay quiet. I shouldn’t have come. It isn’t fair to her to have to worry about me plus deal with two arrogant bastards. If they only knew how incredible she was they would think twice before treating her like she’s no more than a piece of trash on the side of the road.
I can't hear everything, But I see her pull her phone out and hear her say Bryan Snyder’s name, the defensive coach for the Dallas Cowboys. She had him on speed dial and called him as if it were no big deal. She doesn’t just play the small minor league field, she holds her own in a sea of sharks, and I’m willing to bet she has a bigger set of balls than any man in this industry.
The player looks on in disbelief and Presley looks so damn proud of herself. I know she’s just ruined the poor sucker’s life and it actually makes me happy to see. She leaves the field and I head down to the exit door we entered in through, to wait for her.
She kisses me hard, biting my lip in frustration, before turning soft and soothing it with her tongue. “We need a barn and some fucking cows.”
I chuckle as I hold the door open for her.
“I’m calling coach to see what we can figure out. I’m tired Robert. I don’t want to travel and I sure as hell don’t want to mess with this shit anymore. I hate that we’re here and not in our home. I’m sorry about all this.” She starts to cry and then gets pissed that she let a player get to her.
Her emotions are all over the place and I wonder if maybe her melt down in Finland was all for nothing.
Chapter Thirty-seven
This past month I have watched as Presley has busted her ass working with this player for the Cowboys. As good as she was in baseball, she is just as equally good in football. She owns the field the minute she steps on it. She has no issues going up against a three-hundred-pound linebacker, challenging him on the field and dragging him around by his face mask to get her point across. She throws better than some of the quarterbacks out there and works her player harder than his actual coaches.
When we flew with him back to Florida, it was incredible to watch Presley dig at him, and to see the transformation that occurred with him just being back home for a few days. Donovan West was on twenty-four seven for thirty-three days. By the end, I was exhausted just watching her.
I still pay close attention to Pres and her behavior, but she hasn’t said anything yet, shocking since I know she’s late. I want to let her tell me in her own way. I remember how excited she was when she talked to Liv about how she should tell Trey; I don’t want to take that away from her.
Coach thinks he’s found the right guy to take over football, which would leave Presley with hockey, basketball and soccer; I have a feeling those will eventually be turned over to someone else as well. She’s created a name for herself and it’s time for her to enjoy it.
We finally make it home to Texas, a day later than planned, the Cowboys didn’t choose Mercury until the third round and Presley didn’t feel right leaving him to wait on his own. It was close to midnight by the time our plane landed and then another hour before we finally stepped foot in the place we would call home for the next five years.
Liz did an incredible job with everything.
I had no idea that I would be the one picking out wallpaper and paint colors while Pres was the one spending hours a day on a field and in a weight room.
My alarm goes off and I get ready for my first day as a Texas Ranger. She doesn’t stir as I move around the room and I’m happy she’s finally resting. I kiss her head and whisper my goodbye to her, “I love you. I’ll be back in a little bit.”
She shifts her body, her face winces in pain and she murmurs, “Wuvgomoo.”
I grab some Tylenol and a bottle of water and set it on the nightstand before leaving. It’s probably nothing more than sore muscles.
I make the forty-five-minute drive to the stadium and stare up at what was now my home for the next five years. All Presley’s and my hard work had come down to this moment and she wasn’t here to witness it.
I check in, find my locker, get fitted for my uniform and take the tour around the grounds when midway through I feel a solid hand upon my back.
“So how’s it feel?”
I don’t need to look behind me to know whose body the deep timbered voice belongs too. I smile and shake my head, “It feels great. How ya doin Coach? I wasn’t expecting to see you today.”
“I had a couple of possible clients in the area so I thought I would stop by. How was the honeymoon?”
“It was great. Thanks.”
“Well listen, I gotta run, but we’ll catch up tonight over dinner. You’ll be there right?”
“Uh, yea. Pres hasn’t mentioned anything about it to me, but I’m sure it just slipped her mind. I never realized how hard she worked with me. She spent this last month working with a new player for the Cowboys, and well…she’s still asleep.”
Coach lets out a deep belly laugh. “Yea, she doesn’t know when to stop, that’s for damn sure. Hopefully this guy can take some of that stress off of her. I know you both want a family and that’s hard to do with her current schedule. But you’ve got one hell of a woman, West. If anyone can do it, she can. I’ll see ya tonight.”
“See you tonight.”
I get home a couple hours later to find Presley on the couch wrapped in a blanket, wearing one of my sweatshirts and a pair of sweatpants, staring at nothing in particular, not exactly a normal look for her. Cute, but out of character. “Hey you. You feel alright?”
“Hey. How was your first day?” The fact she doesn’t answer how she’s feeling doesn’t go unnoticed by me.
“Good. I ran into Coach today. He said he thinks he found someone to replace you for football.”
“Yea. We’re meeting him for dinner tonight.”
“You okay?” I try again.
“Yea. Just thinking.”
“About.”
“Closing Donovan West Agency.”
“Presley. Why on earth would you do that? You’re incredible at what you do.”
“Because I don’t want to do it anymore. My reason for creating it no longer exists.” She glances at me and returns to her vacant stare.
“Yes it does Presley. I know you started it because of me, but what you’ve done is so much bigger. I’m not letting you give this up. You’ve worked hard for this and if you don’t want to do it anymore, then fine, we’ll find someone to replace you, but you’ve built and image and a name that means something in a cutthroat industry. You are building better teams, making better people, and I know I’m not the only one that has benefited from you. You c
an’t just give that up.”
She shrugs and pulls the sleeves down over the palm of her hand, her fingertips just barely curling over the material. She grimaces and closes her eyes against whatever pain she’s feeling, I immediately rush to her side, wiping away her tears. “Pres, what else is going on?”
She squeezes her eyes tighter, “I was pregnant.”
My chest crushes under her words. My heart stops, my lungs empty, and a pit settles in my stomach. I swallow hard to move the lump stuck in my throat, but it doesn’t budge. Instead it grows nails and scratches at me until I can barely speak, “Was?”
“I’m not anymore.” I pull her into my lap on the floor. She buries her head in the crook of my neck as anguished cries pour from her. Her body violently shakes with each pained sob. She clings to my neck as I cling to her suddenly frail body. “I’m so sorry Robert. I’m so sorry.”
I rock her back and forth, stroking her hair as I cry with her. “You did nothing wrong beautiful. This isn’t your fault Presley.”
“Maybe had I taken it easier. Or didn’t drink six cups a coffee a day. Maybe if I—”
“Stop it.” I attempt to look at her, the tears in my eyes blur my vision, but I do the best I can to comfort her. “You did nothing wrong. You didn’t know.”
“But I did. I found out a week ago.”
“Is that when you started asking for help?”
She nods and cries harder.
“You did the right thing Presley.”
“I’m sure they just thought I couldn’t cut it. That I was weak.”
I chuckle a little. Not at our situation, but at the fact she has no idea how people view her.
“Honey, I promise you, that’s not at all what happened. I heard Mercury say he was glad when you stepped back. He’d been taking hour-long ice baths for the last three weeks.”
She lifts her head, her eyes finding mine for a second before she grips her stomach in pain and I instantly want to do something for her. I try to move her, but she stops me, holding tighter to me.
Tag Forever Mine Page 33
